Country Gentleman

325_fan · Post by **325_fan** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 12:56 am

Anyone own a 6122SP? I'm trying to sell my Gibson Les Paul Standard to help me get one.

webhead · Post by **webhead** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 3:29 am

Any pix of the LP?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 4:05 am

I've got a 6122-59. Single cutaway, 17" lower bout, painted F-holes, special pickups...

What did you want to know?

This guitar is closer in sound to the early '60s CGs than the SP.

But it's missing the upper cutaway.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:21 pm

I also have the same guitar Paul has; a Fabulous guitar.Personal opinion, but on the issue of the '59 sounding closer to an early 60s, I disagree.I had the SP before the '59.And I've owned more than a few CGs from early-mid 60s.And a Real 59-60 single cut Gent.Not one of the originals were bad examples of classic Gretsches, but IMO, the new ones SMOKE the old ones.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:38 pm

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 9:45 pm

Hey Chris, I've got a 6122SP. I have always wanted a Tennessean, but I had my first summer job in 2004, and that Summer NAMM saw the release of the Duo Jet and the Country Gent specials, so I opted to go for the Country Gentleman, with the logic that this guitar is the most expensive of the ones I'd like to own, so from here on out, it only gets cheaper!

I received mine in September 2004 and it's the most expensive thing I own thus far, and its worth every penny. The neck is very comfortable to play, and I really like the sound of the TV Jones pickups. I've got 11 gauge Thomastik-Infeld strings on mine at the moment (I just discoverd these strings about 2 months ago), and I don't think I'll ever switch to another brand. You can totally nail the Harrison sound with these pickups, and that's the sound I was looking for.

Here's a picture:

Let us know if you have other questions!

kog · Post by **kog** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:11 pm

If you want to save a couple hundred dollars, you could also go for the 6122-1962, which is the exact same guitar but without the double mutes. Mine is pre-Fender, from 1997, but it is gorgeous and nails Harrison's sound too. Some people have a thing about pre- and post-Fender Gretschs. I've got NO problems at all with my 2 pre-Fender Gretschs.

Having said that, if I had it to do over again, I'd get the 6122SP too.

bee_atles · Post by **bee_atles** » Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:43 pm

that's a beautiful guitar. Man i wish I had money.

Gretsch definitely has a very unique and deirable sound.

bosifis · Post by **bosifis** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:37 am

I have the Country Classic II double cutaway. I love it. MY most expensive guitar(Outta 12, mind you). I got it in the early 2000's for $1566, free shipping from "Wichita Band Instruments"(No tax if you're outside Kansas). Nice people. I was thinking of upgrading my pickups to TV Jones cause, I heard they were much better than Filtrons. I'm refinishing an old ****** guitar and might put the Filtrons on that one.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:34 am

Then there's the 6119/62, the so-called "Shea Stadium" guitar, which has HiLoTrons!

The Filtertron/TVJones snobs on gretschpages.com mostly hate HLTs, but I loved 'em on my last Annie...

And I guess George thought they were OK, too.

rick12dr · Post by **rick12dr** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:08 am

PUs are personal preference things. Pre Fender Gretsches had Ceramic magnet Filtertrons; since Fender, they switched to Alnico Filtertrons.
But, if you could[and I Have, BTW] do a side by side A/B sound test with, say, a 6122[w/stock Gretsch FTs]and the SP model w/ TVs, IMO, the difference in sound/tone, seems to be that, for lack of a better word, the TVs are clearer, more transparent sounding.FWIW, one of my buddies just scored a new 6122-12string.I have it on loan here as we speak.Some might say"sacrilege" to even consider any 12 but a Rick, but I can't take that narrow view.The Gretsch 12 has Great acoustic sustain, and is very good plugged in as well.A different, but still comfortable neck profile, and overall, an Excellent alternative to a Rick 12.I'm thinking maybe not a lot of these have gotten out in circulation so far, so unless you haven't tried one, Don't knock it!!I think I want one...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 11:37 am

Wow...really off-topic, but I just score 2 twelves which both arrive the same day next week...a new Washburn Cumberland acoustic, which I have heard nothing but excellent things about...and a Fender Venus XII (Courtney Love), which got equally BAD reviews, but which just might work for some stuff and its pregnant penguin looks I find humorous...

Report sometime later. I do suspect a string order switch. I want bass strings on TOP.

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 2:22 pm

Paul, I love the HiloTrons myself, which is one of the reasons I really hope to have a Tennessean in the future. The stock HiloTrons sound really good, but I've also heard that the TV Jones Hilos are awesome.

The 6119-62HT is definitely on my list!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 3:06 pm

Stu, I've got a line on a brand new 6119-62HT for US$1250 out the door. What do you think???

oyoyobeatle · Post by **oyoyobeatle** » Sat Apr 29, 2006 5:03 pm

I've heard the TVJones,That is quite close the Vintage FilterTrons.So you need them if you want THE SOUND.
And the MUTE...You never use them but The looks is most important to me to make the Re-CG real...

This is my '62 "real" 6122.It sounds amazing but now hard to find in NORMAL price...I got it 12 years ago at $3500.